Mugabe will not concede defeat

Mugabe will not concede defeat

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By Lebo Nkatazo

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe will not concede defeat if he loses the presidential elections this weekend, he told supporters in Bulawayo on Sunday.

Mugabe, in power since Zimbabwe’s independence from Britain in 1980, said a vote for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) would be a waste because “there is no way we can allow them to rule this country”.

Analysts predict Mugabe, 84, faces the biggest threat to his uninterrupted rule from resurgent opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and his former finance minister, Simba Makoni, when Zimbabweans vote on Saturday.

Zimbabweans, facing daily hardships and a collapsing economy, have thronged rallies addressed by Mugabe’s main rivals causing panic in the ruling Zanu PF party and Mugabe’s loyalists in the security services.

Army commander General Constantine Chiwenga, Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri and the head of the country’s Prison Services Paradzai Zimondi have all said they will resist a change of government in what Mugabe’s opponents say is an “advance coup warning”.

Taking his campaign to what is traditionally a hotbed of opposition to his rule, Mugabe addressed thousands of cheering supporters at Stanley Square in Bulawayo’s poor township of Makokoba, vowing the MDC would not rule in his lifetime.

He said: "You can vote for them (MDC), but that will be a wasted vote. You will be cheating yourself as there is no way we can allow them to rule this country.

"We have a job to do and that is to protect our heritage. The MDC will not rule this country. It will never, ever happen. Asisoze sivume (we will not yield).”

In his address, delivered in a combination of his native Shona language, English and a sprinkling of Ndebele – the language spoken by most in attendance – Mugabe pointed to his party’s symbol of a clenched fist, evidence he said, “we can box”.

He mocked the MDC’s symbol of an open palm which he said was proof “the MDC does not have the zeal to work for the people”.

Displaying an impressive grasp of Ndebele, Mugabe said: “Thina inqindi silazo, siyanqinda futhi (we have the fists, and we can box).”

Reverting to his favourite theme of barbed attacks on western countries, Mugabe claimed Zimbabwe’s economic recession and growing poverty should be blamed on sanctions imposed by Britain.

He charged: “All the problems you are witnessing – the lack of foreign currency and so on – are because of sanctions.

"The Look East Policy took long to bear fruit because our economy was aligned to the West. But trade relations with India, Iran, China and Indonesia are growing. The West is also turning East."

Over the weekend, Mugabe made further whistle stops at Inkanyezi Primary School in New Lobengula and a football stadium in Chitungwiza, near the capital Harare.

In Chitungwiza, Mugabe told supporters he shared in their suffering, telling them he also had a cold bath and experienced water cuts at his official residence.

Mugabe said: "Last night (Friday) when I came back from Zvimba (his home village), there was no water in my home. I didn't have warm water. I said to myself I am a man, and I used cold water they fetched for me by buckets.

“This morning they tried to boil water for me, but I am used to the showers in prison. I had a cold bath again. Water shortage is a problem. My minister said they could not distribute water because they don't have money for purification chemicals, and they were waiting for cabinet. I said why wait for cabinet? They want foreign currency to import these chemicals from South Africa.”

Mugabe railed at Makoni, calling him a sell-out and a prostitute.

He blasted: "Sell-outs will never win elections in Zimbabwe.”
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